NEW YORK, NY - New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced Monday that the club has assigned forward Christian Thomas to the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Thomas, 20, was credited with three hits and registered two shots on goal in 12:46 of ice time while making his NHL debut on Saturday at Montreal. He returns to Connecticut where he has registered 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points, along with 13 penalty minutes in 52 games with the Whale this season. Thomas leads all Connecticut rookies in goals, points, power play goals (three) and shots on goal (104), and is tied for fifth on the team overall in points, ranks fourth in goals, and is tied for fourth in shots and power play goals. He has posted four multi-point performances, including multi-goal efforts on November 10 at Worcester (two goals) and February 15 against Portland (two goals). Thomas has tallied four goals and three assists in his last six games with Connecticut, including a career-high, three-point effort on February 9 at St. John’s (one goal, two assists).

The 5-9, 170-pounder registered one goal and one assist in five games with Connecticut last season. He made his professional debut with Connecticut on April 7, 2012, at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and recorded his first professional points with a goal and an assist on April 13, 2012, against Manchester. Thomas also skated in six postseason contests with the Whale during the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs.

The Toronto, Ontario native was originally selected as the Rangers’ second round choice, 40th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.